Pioneering Climate Resilience and Sustainability: HKUST Launches Landmark UNESCO-Backed Initiative

The global transdisciplinary "research-to-operation" (R2O) initiative, “Seamless Prediction and Services for Sustainable Natural and Built Environments” (SEPRESS), led by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has been endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of its International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD). Over the next decade, HKUST’s SEPRESS will spearhead efforts to collaborate with global partners in transforming scientific advancements into tailored solutions that enhance climate resilience and sustainability worldwide, with a particular focus on Least Developed Countries. SEPRESS will achieve this by translating progress in weather-to-climate prediction research into scalable solutions and fostering global partnerships to deliver actionable outcomes.

Led by Prof. LU Mengqian, Director of the World Sustainable Development Institute (WSDI) and the Otto Poon Centre for Climate Resilience and Sustainability (CCRS) at HKUST, the SEPRESS program has already engaged twelve partners, including universities, national meteorological and hydrological agencies, and research centres from Mainland China, Nepal, Egypt, Russia, Pakistan, Uganda, Tanzania and Thailand.  On May 7, 2025, during the "Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum for the Sustainable Development Goals" (STI Forum) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, SEPRESS was featured as one of twenty-five programs globally selected under the UNESCO’s IDSSD initiative. This initiative aims to fully leverage the power of science to help the world get back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals within the next decade.

Bridging Science and Society

Focusing on seven key areas—human health, food security, water resources, clean energy, climate action, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive economic growth, HKUST’s SEPRESS initiative aims to bridge the gap between scientific and technological advancements as well as their operational applications. Key priorities include enhancing urban resilience under climate change, ensuring sustainability within the water-energy-food-economy nexus, and improving the forecasting of climate-sensitive disease outbreaks. 

The initiative also supports financial and insurance companies in assessing risks and developing weather derivatives and other innovative financial products to manage climate-related risks and enable climate-sensitive investments, while helping governments and businesses to make informed decisions in strategic planning and policy design. To drive progress in these critical domains, SEPRESS actively invites organizations and international research groups to propose innovative projects aligned with its mission. To date, SEPRESS has secured USD 2.5 million in research funding, with six projects already contributing to the objectives. Beyond research, the program fosters public engagement and awareness on these issues through global thought leadership platforms, ensuring a broader societal impact.

Addressing Sustainable Challenges with Technology

“I am deeply honored by UNESCO’s recognition of SEPRESS, which underscores the role of science in tackling global sustainability challenges,” said Prof. LU Mengqian. “At HKUST, we are committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that turns academic rigor into real-world impact. SEPRESS unites global scholars across climate science and sustainable resource management to develop actionable strategies for clean energy transitions, disaster resilience, and equitable development. This initiative demonstrates how academia can drive progress through knowledge-sharing, innovation, and cross-border partnerships, empowering communities to build a prosperous future.”

“By integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI into climate modeling, we are advancing predictive climate science with unprecedented precision and reliability. This enables us to develop targeted and actionable solutions, from forecasting diseases outbreaks and mitigating infrastructure risks from storm surges to tackling economic instability caused by extreme weather. These efforts equip communities to build climate-resilient systems and sustainable livelihoods,” she added. 

Concerted Global Efforts to Build a Sustainable Future 

Under HKUST’s leadership, SEPRESS will continue to cultivate and support new partners and projects aligned with its mission.  Its founding committee includes leading institutions from around the world, including those from Mainland China such as the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Beijing Normal University, Dalian Maritime University, Zhejiang University, and Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, alongside global collaborators like the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology, Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Egypt’s National Water Research Center, Thailand’s Phuket Rajabhat University, and the Pakistan Meteorological Department and growing partners. For more details and partners of SEPRESS, please visit: https://wsdi-dev.webhost.hkust.edu.hk/SEPRESS.

For more details about UNESCO International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development, please visit: https://www.un-sciences-decade.org/en